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Nearby Theaters

The Dilworth Theater opened in 1939 in the Dilworth neighborhood of south Charlotte. Glenn Grove was its first manager. Newspaper advertisements called it “The Friendly Theater”. In December of 1939 a 20 minute stage show and a drawing to win a Firestone bike were features of Saturday matinees.

The Dilworth Theater was a small, single story theater of Art Deco design. It actually opened as a second run theater, but in the 1940’s it started running new releases and was operated by Paramount Pictures Inc. through their subsidiary H.F. Kincey. In the early-1960’s its run of “Cleopatra” set a record for Charlotte movie attendance. It was broken by the Carolina Theater’s run of “The Sound of Music” several years later.

In the late-1960’s the Dilworth Theater went back to second run movies, serving the inner city community of south Charlotte. It was considered an important centerpiece of the community. In February of 1977 the Rev. James Barrnett and Concerned Black Citizens painted and repaired the theater. People shared fond memories of the movie house with the local newspaper. In the 1970’s the Dilworth Theater ran martial arts movies out of Hong Kong. With the rapidly changing face of the Dilworth neighborhood the old theater seemed to have found its niche. But January 10, 1984, the theater burned to the ground. Arson was suspected.

Dilworth has always been one of Charlotte’s most beautiful neighborhoods. It was home to actor Randolph Scott — his house is located on Dilworth Road. He is buried in Charlotte’s historic Elmwood Cemetary.

The Dilworth Theater was known for its green exterior, and its neighborhood charm. It served as an entertainment venue for south Charlotte residents for almost 50 years. An interior design store and parking lot are located at the address on South Boulevard. Today Dilworth is a neighborhood of condos, bistros, trendy shops, and old city charm. It’s a pity the old movie house didn’t survive. It would fit well in it’s new neighborhood.

The exclusive NORTH CAROLINA showing of “WEST SIDE STORY” was a exclusive advance enagement at the Dilworth Theatre on June 23,1962 where it played to capacity crowds. Not only did WEST SIDE STORY played here but the exclusive run of CLEOPATRA broke all Charlotte attendance records during its run at the Dilworth in 1963.

Chuck1231 and MikeRogers:
I’m doing extensive research on this to why WEST SIDE STORY didn’t come to Charlotte until 1962. Charlotte was the first to book the movie as an exclusive enagement showing on June 23,1962. Other cities within the Carolinas didn’t get the film until July or August of 1962,since the film was originally released in 1961.
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The Dilworth Theatre is Getting the English-Language Version of “MARRIAGE,ITALIAN STYLE” in 1964 after a five month run in New York at the FESTIVAL and LOEW’S TOWER EAST.General Release.Notice Atlanta was not listed?

I have the ads for the showing of WEST SIDE STORY at the Dilworth Theatre in June of 1962. I also had the pleasure of finding the ads for the roadshow engagement of CLEOPATRA too. I will post them later.

CLEOPATRA was a reserved seat engagement at the Dilworth Theater on June 26,1963. It was the only showing of the film in the Carolinas. It was a phenomenol hit that played to capacity crowds for over a year before it ended its astounding run in mid-1964.